Women's Volleyball | 12/1/2022 12:32:00 PM

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The American Volleyball Coaches Association announced its 41st annual All-America Teams for NCAA Division II women's volleyball, including three members of the South Region champion Barry Buccaneers.

Sophomore outside hitter Diana Akopova (Mozdok, Russia) earned a spot on the first team, as well as National Player of the Year, after joining the team from Syracuse. She leads Division II in in kills (634), kills per set (5.66), points (710.5), and points per set (6.34), and she has 212 digs and 85 blocks. She came up big in the South Regional, where the Buccaneers swept defending national champion Tampa in the final to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2022 NCAA Championship. In two wins over the defending champs, she totaled 72 kills, including a school-record 42 in the five-set win at home. Akopova is the first Buccaneer to win National Player of the Year.

"She's a powerful player with a great arm," head coach Leonid Yelin said of Akopova. "She was just behind two great players at Syracuse."

Senior setter Marija Borcic (Uzice, Serbia) was named to the second team, after coming from Coastal Carolina as a graduate transfer. The setter topped 40 assists in 14 matches this season and she stands in the top 25 in assists and assists per set. Under her guidance, Barry advanced to the Elite Eight by sweeping defending champ Tampa in the South Region final.

"Marija has been so key for us," Yelin said. "She does a great job running the offense and getting the ball to the right spot."

Senior outside hitter Djuly Schmorantz (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) was named honorable mention for the second straight year. The Brazilian was second on the team in kills (311), kills per set (2.75) and digs (367) while serving as the primary in serve receive.

"Djuly was in the transfer portal when we got here in March," Yelin said. "She was set on going to Nova Southeastern, but we convinced her to stay, and I'm glad she listened. She is our team captain."